PCB offers free tickets for the final

Karachi: With Pakistan's ouster making the Asia Cup final of little importance to local fans, the PCB and the provincial government will give away 10,000 free tickets to students and cricket clubs in a desperate bid to pull crowds for the summit clash between India and Sri Lanka.

A senior Pakistan Cricket Board official said 10,000 tickets were being distributed to schools and among the 173 clubs in Karachi.

"The government will also run 32 buses from eight locations in the city to bring and take back the spectators. We want the people to come to the stadium for the final and support the finalists," he said.

"So what if Pakistan is not in the final but we must show the world that we are a sporting nation and watch the final," the official added.

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, when asked for his reaction on the possibility of playing before a near empty stadium in the final, quipped, "Look there is nothing we can do about it but if we get visas then we can invite some people over from India to come and support us and watch the final."

Meanwhile, the PCB official said the Asia Cup has been a success on the organisational front but it was important to get people to come and watch the final.

"The smooth organization of the Asia Cup has been paramount in convincing the ICC to have the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in September as per schedule," he said.

"We will distribute these tickets but we can't throw open the gates because of security reasons," he said.

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